The Evolution of Ski Gear Manufactureres - Who's next?

[SnowHot]

If there is anything I notice in ski gear is that different manufacturers are on the cusp at different times.

A few years ago, when K2 introduced the Luv line, they had some profound women skiers at the top of the field with much input for the product line and made sure that they came out with a top notch product.
One of the first to build a womans ski line from the ground up!!!
In the past few years, it seems that K2 was resting on the great existing product while others who were lagging, such as Nordica, Volkl(now partnered with K2) and Head........to mention a few, have taken a shot at their own intuitiveness in the women's ski line.
Look at the amazing carvers that Nordica and Volkl have produced in the women's line.
Head and Volkl have taken the women's midfat and fat ski line to a whole new level.

Do you think the powers in the industry will keep it up, or will someone else kick it up a notch and set a whole new bar for this market?

I think I know who is next on the horizon, but I'll keep it to myself until I see some replies.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Oh....I DEFINITELY think someone's going to kick it up a notch!

AND a HUGE "thank you" to K2 for starting the Movement and making it meaningful to boot (aka: % of profits to Susan G. Komen). I know technology will continue to move forward, but I will always feel a loyalty to K2 for what they have done for women in skiing! (and you wouldn't have CAUGHT me on a k2 in the early years....Rossignol was THE ski for me when I was younger!!!)

hmmmmmmmmmmmm........... somebody's coming up with ideas as we speak.... I think I have an idea....but it's just my opinion! :D

 

[perma-grin]

Snowhot, It's funny that you should say that about K2. A few weeks ago (when we were at Boyne ) I made the almost exact statement about K2 and their T-nine skis. I think maybe it's time to do more than just widen a few waist and redo graphics. I personally am a hugh advocate of the Nordica Olympia Ski line. I think that Nordica has built some really great skis (mens and womens)over the last 8 yrs. I am also paying close attention to what Head is doing now with their Ladies line of skis. Based off of what I have skied for next season those two company's are hands down my favorite lines for next season.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I am also paying close attention to what Head is doing now with their Ladies line of skis. Based off of what I have skied for next season those two company's are hands down my favorite lines for next season.

I am SO excited to use my Sweet Fat Thangs!!!!!!

 

[Jilly]

Well a lot of us are not impressed with the Rossi offering. I really think the "mutix" is a gimmick. All they did for next year was change the number. Attraxion V becomes Attraxion VI. Wow that's inventive. So they are due for a major change. At Atomic they changed the names and graphics to something entirely different, but the ski technology isn't any different. Salomon didn't do much and they aren't doing bad to start with.
The newest thing I've seen in the last month was from VIST. But I don't think it was a ladies only ski.
I've got a feeling that SnowHot's hot manufacturer isn't necessarily a well known name. She does has a penchant for the lessor knowns.

 

[SnowHot]

I took some time to demo several Solomon skis at a demo tent a few months back. I took the time to take pics of the skis I demo'd and wrote some notes, but I was less than enthusiastic about the skis. They were okay, but didn't set my world on fire.
At the end of the demo time, I got back on my Eos and remembered how much I love them!
Yay! Blizzard!!!
Blizzard has a new ski in the magnum line up for 09 that intrigues me, but still I am not sure Blizzard has enough product expansion to take the market by storm.......though they do have some great technology.

Elan offered some great stuff in the women's line last year, but I haven't heard anything new for this year. What happened to the Free spice?

You're right about Atomic. They've laid flat since the B series a few years ago, and even then, it was a shrink it and pink it version of other lines in their catalog.

 

[volklgirl]

Nordica has been an innovator of women's skis since before they were Nordica. Nordica purchased Kastle a while back and is now bringing back the Kastle brand. Kastle was one of the first to move the waist of the ski forward and offer a forward mounting point. If they keep with the Kastle tradition, based on their FW-1, Synergy, and one I forget the name of in the 1980's, I expect to see huge innovations in the women's lines from them.

I also think Head is beginning to take the women's market seriously now.

 

[SnowHot]

VG, I agree with you about Nordica. The one area they lack with the women's technology, is the free ski line. More women are getting into back country and off piste, yet they remain stuck with system skis that "do okay" off piste but aren't really designed for that.